The Way We Worked

The Way We Worked explores how work became a central element in American culture by tracing the many changes that affected the workforce and work environments. The exhibition draws from the Archives’ rich photographic collections, covering more than 150 years to tell this compelling story. Why, where, and how do we work? What value does work have to individuals and communities? What does our work tell others about us?

More about this exhibition

Included in this exhibit are paintings by Anna Held Audette and Duvian Montoya. Audette is a contemporary woman artist who paints industrial ruins and abandoned machinery and Montoya’s paintings act as a personal journal of observations made during his travels, childhood, and life experiences.

The Way We Worked, an exhibition created by the National Archives, is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress.

The Connecticut tour of The Way We Worked is made possible by Connecticut Humanities in partnership with Historic New England and is part of Connecticut at Work, a year-long initiative on the past, present and future of work in the lives of the state’s residents and organized by Connecticut Humanities.

Image: Duvian Montoya, Our Cooks